Keep Your Pup’s Smile Flawless with the Best Dental Gel for Dogs
In dogs, one of the most commonly diagnosed health issues is periodontal disease — a potentially serious dental condition in which the tissues surrounding the puppy's teeth get inflamed. Thankfully, there’s a pretty simple way of preventing it, and that’s maintaining good dental hygiene. With healthy gums and teeth, your pup will be able to avoid pain and infections and can prevent an unpleasant trip to the vet.
But, you’ll need highly effective toothpaste to keep your furry friend’s smile looking its best, and that’s where dental gel for dogs comes in. To help you out, this article features a roundup of some of our favorite dental gels for dogs in 2024. Let’s have a look!
Buying Guide: Dental Gel for Dogs
Dental care for dogs is crucial for many reasons such as preventing bad breath, tooth loss, organ damage, oral pain, and serious dental conditions like periodontal disease. That’s why you must create and follow a strict routine to maintain proper dental hygiene.
Most people resort to regular brushing to prevent plaque build-up and gingivitis, but brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t easy, especially if you have to do it regularly. The right toothpaste or gel, however, can make things easier — especially if your pet loves the flavor. To help, this buying guide describes some key considerations to keep in mind when you’re in the market for dental gel for dogs, so keep reading.
Fluoride-Free
We’d recommend steering clear of fluoride-based dog toothpaste or gels. You may be surprised to hear it since it’s such a beneficial ingredient for human dental health, but that’s not the case with dogs. Fluoride can be toxic to dogs.
Look for the term “fluoride-free” on the packaging or make sure it’s not listed as an ingredient at the back.
Brushing Ease
Another key criterion for judging the effectiveness of your dog’s new dental gel is to see how easy it is to brush with it. A lot of it has to do with the product’s smell or taste. Some are fairly easy for your pooch to get used to, while others may repel your pet, making it very hard to brush their teeth.
You might have to do some trial and error to find out the likes and dislikes of your dog when it comes to scents and flavors. But, once you crack that code, you’ll know exactly what to shop for to get a smooth brushing experience.
Ingredients
Lastly, pay very close attention to the ingredient list of your dental gel for dogs.
Some dental gels and almost all dog toothpaste have scrubbing agents that help get rid of plaque, tartar, and cosmetic stains from the surface of your dog’s teeth. This means your dog won’t have bad breath or any bacteria buildup with regular brushing, dramatically bringing down the risk of periodontal disease. To reap these benefits, ensure that the gel or toothpaste is packed with ingredients with supreme cleaning qualities.
Xylitol Is a Red Flag
Speaking of the importance of ingredients, there’s one that you must be sure to avoid when it comes to dental gel for dogs. We’re talking about Xylitol.
You’ll find it in almost every tube of human toothpaste, which is exactly why you can’t share yours with your dog. That’s because Xylitol can drop your dog’s blood sugar level, and even cause liver damage.
Reviewing the Premier Dental Gels for Dogs in 2024
Vetality Dental Gel for Dogs
– Best Overall
Did you know that some dog dental gels don’t require any brushing at all? Well, the Vetality Dental Gel for Dogs is one of them — and it works like a charm. Simply twist it out as needed and your dog will be keen to get a taste of it.
Without any brushing or making a mess, it helps maintain proper dental hygiene in dogs. There’s no forced brushing involved. Your pup will ask for it, which means it doesn’t have to be a chore for you! Because it uses a bio-adhesive to stick to your dog’s teeth and gum for 24-hour action, this dental gel for dogs is our top choice on this list overall.
- Brightens, whitens, and cleans dog teeth
- Veterinarian-approved formula
- Completely brush-free
- Not tasty enough for all dogs
Oratene Dental Gel for Dogs
– Tastiest Flavor
Oratene’s Dental Gel for Dogs is another brushless option to gently clean and maintain your dog’s dental hygiene all day. The clear gel has a tasty flavor that keeps dogs coming back for more every morning. The result is fresh breath, reduced inflammation, and a far lower risk of serious dental conditions like periodontal disease. Best of all, this dental gel for dogs is 100% safe and free of alcohol, harsh chemicals, detergents, and xylitol, so you can use it with confidence.
- Very easy to use
- Tasty flavor that dogs love
- Provides gentle, painless oral care
- May not suit some dogs
Bodhi Dog Dental Gel for Dogs
– Award-Winning Pick
Next up, we have the Bodhi Dog Dental Gel for Dogs. It’s the proud winner of 2021’s Family Choice Award, and we’d vote for it as well! The “cool mint” flavor makes your dog’s breath smell great, making those kisses even more adorable than before. Along with peppermint and spearmint, the formula also has aloe vera — all of which are great at neutralizing odors and bad breath. And, with regular brushing, the cleaning agents in this dental gel for dogs can get rid of all plaque buildup, preventing and combating many of your pup’s dental health issues.
- USA-made with sustainable, cruelty-free ingredients
- Alcohol-free and non-toxic
- Provides great odor control
- Gel is not enzymatic
TropiClean Dental Gel for Dogs
– Quickest Results
TropiClean’s Dental Gel for Dogs promises to show noticeable results in less than a month. We’re talking much cleaner, whiter, and healthier teeth in just 30 days of regular use. It’s easy to maintain a consistent routine with this product as well since it’s brush-free, meaning you don’t have to worry about forcefully brushing your dog’s teeth. Just add two drops of this gel to each side of your dog’s mouth and, voila, you’re done for the day!
- Made for dogs of all ages
- Effectively removes tartar
- Offers fast results
- Brushless and easy to use
- Not very effective against plaque buildup
Vet’s Best Dental Gel for Dogs
– Most Beneficial Ingredients
The Vet’s Best Dental Gel for Dogs has by far the most impressive list of ingredients out of all other products on this list. It has enzymes, neem oil, baking soda, aloe, and grapefruit seed extract — all of which are excellent for your dog’s dental hygiene.
This mix of natural ingredients is vet-formed, which is why it has such strong antifungal and antibacterial qualities for fighting plaque and tartar effectively. With regular use, it freshens your dog’s breath, brightens its smile, and promotes healthier teeth and gums.
- Reliable brand name
- Excellent combination of natural ingredients
- Highly effective and safe to use
- Not brushless like some other gels
People Also Asked
A: While dental gel for dogs isn’t absolutely necessary for every pooch, it’s certainly a good idea to use it. This is because, just like humans, dogs can suffer from a variety of different dental health issues, such as periodontal disease. Dog toothpaste or dental gel can help prevent these issues, dramatically improving your pet’s quality of life.
A: No, you should never use your own dental health products for your dog. That’s mainly because most human dental hygiene products have a sweetener called Xylitol, which can be harmful to dogs. Also, the pH of a dog’s mouth is very different from that of a human mouth.
A: Yes, dog dental gels also expire and the date will usually be mentioned on the packaging. Using expired gel, however, will probably not cause your pup any harm — it would just not be as effective.
A: Yes, dental gels and toothpaste for dogs are manufactured to be safe for ingestion. Almost all dogs will end up consuming some percentage of the gel or toothpaste, which is why many brush-free dental hygiene products for dogs come as treats!
A: Yes, as long as you use dog-specific products on your pet, dental gels and toothpaste are completely safe.